davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-01-13
RAMROADING UNDER THE SEA.
The First Tfain Cos Through the Severn
Tunnel, I-S Miles Juder the Ocean.
from the Cardif Weekly Mail.1

FROM Inc CttIIln weekly Mall
The first passenger trains passed
through the gigantic tube linking the
shores of Monmouthshlre and Glouces-
tershire on Wednesday morning. Before
those on board quite knew where they
where a shrill whistle, sudden darken-
ing-for 1t was now nearly broad day
light and eve are in p told them
they were ain" and rushing down q
clearly perceptible decline toward a
point a hundred feet below the bed of
the broad estuary. In thlice watches
were out and windows down, the first to
keep time, the other ~ lest the ventila-
ton. The thrush of the icy cold air,
as clear ard pure as the trip across was
being made IL the cd way-over in
stead of under the ..Eaaannel-s showed
the latter was 4lI 49, submarine
journey-if such it may be called
proved to be more like run through q
pretty deep cutting than through a
tunnel four and quarter miles long.
For about three minutes and half after
entering thereswas no mistaking the fact
that sharp gradient was being de-
scended, then momentary rumble as
the train passed over the curve of the
arc-for the tube dips in the centre
and then the locomotive, at an ever
decreasing speed, climbed the opposite
gradient, to emerge once more into day
light in minutes and 40 seconds.
As before remarked, the ventilation of
the tunnel is little short of perfect.
During the construction of the work a
fan IS feet in diameter, discharging
60, 900 cubic feet of air per minute, was
used. This has now been replaced by a
fan 40 feet in diameter and 12 feet wide,
made on the same principle as those
used at the Mersey, and portion of the
Metropolitan tunnels The tunnel is 26
feet wide and 90 feet high from the
double line of rails to the crown of the
arch inside the brickWork. The rails
are lald on longitudinal sleepers. The
tunnel has been lined throughout with
vitrifed bricks set in cement, and no
less than 100000 bricks have been
used in this work. This vitrifed brick
wall has a thickness of feet in the
crown of the arm beneath the "shoots, :"
but as the tunnel rises from this lowest
point on a gradient one in so one way
and one in 100 forward the Gloucester
shire side, this tn ckness is gradually
reduced to feet inches.
The total length of the Severn Tunnel
is four miles 624 yards. The ST. Gothard
Tunnel is % miles, Mont Gents Tunnel
I! miles, Arlberg Tunnel (Austria) 6!
miles; there a tunnel in Massachusetts
A miles the Standege Tunnel, on the
London and Northwestern, is miles
long, and the Box Tunnel rather less.
But the special feature of the Severn
Tunnel lies in the fact that p miles Of
it have been constructed from 45 feet to
100 feet below the bed of rapidly
flowing tidal estuary, offering engineer
ING difficulties which make it the most
remarkable tunnel in the world.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-01-13
A Pei tinent Inquiry.

Grace and Teddy had a grand fight q
few evenings ago. Grace took Ted's
canton flannel elephant away from him
and wouldn't give it back Ted ran at
his sister like 4 tow-headed fury, and
Grace gave him a sounding slap on the
face. sSed's cries brought their mother
to the scene of ection, and she carried
him off TO bed, leaving the aggressor
Grace in possession of tie field. Ted cx-
planned matters to the ear of maternal
sympathy as he was being put to bed
"Well, Grace was naughty" said the
mother, as she put on Ted's nightgown.
'I'II have to talk to her about it. But
you must forgive her, Teddy. And you
must pray for her, too,n she added, as
Ted bumI ed down on his knees in his
usual devotional attitude.
"Just let me go down and give her
one good slop first like she gave me, y
said Ted, wrathfully.
"Oh, no, darling; go on with your
prayers" said the mother softly,
smoothing his hair with her hand.
''Tho Bible says we must pray for
those who despitefully use us. y.
Mamma" asked Ted, earnestly lift
ing his face. Mamma, did you ever
try it!"-BoSt011 Record.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-01-13

'His little sister, too take her some
present., " said Joel. ''Make them happy
for me, Santa Claus-you are right
make them happy for me-"
How sweetly Joel slept! When he
awoke the sunlight streamed in through
the window and seemed to bid him a
merry Christmas. How contented and
happy Joel felt! It must have been the
talk with Santa Claus that did it all he
had never known sweeter sense of
peace. A little girl came out of the
house over the way. She had new doll
in her arms and she sang a merry little
seng and she laughed with Joy as she
skipped along the street Aye, and at
the window sat the little sick boy, and
the toy Santa Claus left him seemed to
have brought him strength and health,
for his eyes sparkled and his checks
glowed, and it was plain to see his heart
was full of happiness.
And. oh how the chimes did ring out,
and how joyfully they sang their Christ
mas carol that morning! They sang of
Bethlehem and the man ger and the Babe,
they sang of love and charity, till all
the Christmas air seemed full of voices:
Carol of the Christmas morn
Carol of the Christ-child born
Carol of the list'ning sky
Till it echoes back again
''GIoFy be to God on high,
Peace on earth, good will tow'rd men,
So ali this music-the carol of the
chimes, the sound of children's voices,
the smile of the poor little boy over the
way-all this sweet music crept into
Joel's heart that Christmas morning;
yes, and with these sweet, holy influences
came others so subtitle and divine that
in its silent communion with them Joel's
heart cried out amen and amen to the
glory of the Christmas time.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-01-13
SHOWING THE QUEER.
Hon. VIM. NJ. Evar.'s Early, but Innocent,
Experience with n Forged Check.

'Do YOU know" said a prominent
watched Senator William Maxwell
Evarts sauntering along through the
street, "that the Senator's first large fee
as a lawyer didn't do him bit of pecu-
MARY bencit2"
The reporter didn't know it.
''Well, it's rather good story" the
lawyer said, "and as few lawyers even
remember it, it can be told without any
fear of the chestnut annunciator. The
incident occurred in 1912, when Evarts
was only 24 years old, and slim young
lawyer with an old-fashioned choker col
lar, and his interrogative forefnger Just
beginning to be- noticeable part of his
practice He was then criminal prac-
titioner, and giving glimpses of that pc
culiar mastery of sentences of all sizes
which has kept pace with the effective
use of his forefnger.
Monroe Edwards, very skillful and
conscientious penman had forged check,
got caught, and hired young Evarts to
save him from Sing Sing. The trial
came on on June 6, and lasted six days
The future Senator stabbed at witness
after witness with his deadly forefnger
interrogatories, and finally appealed to
the jury for his clients acquittal. 1t was
a marvellous speech, full Of fire and i'm
petuosity of youthful enthusiasm. It
was the talk of the courts for months,
and undoubtedly laid the basis of Viii
liam Maxwell's fame as an advocate.
But the jury freed itself from the gilt
ter1ng heap of brilliant sentences that
young Evarts piled up on them, and
found Edwards guilty. The Judge com
plimented Evarts, and then sent his
client to Sing Sing for ten years. The
prisoner complimented Evarts on his elo-
quence, too, and just before he walked
into the Sheriff's carriage to 90 to the
Sing Sing train gave the tall young law
yer neat check, bearing the signature
of a well-known man. Il was for seve-
raj hundred dollars, and William Max
well went proudly to the bank with it
after he had babe his client good-by.
''No good, said the bank cashier,
when Evarts handed it up for deposit.
- 'Why@ cried young William Max
well in amazement
1.-The signature is a forgery, sir, the
cashier responded.
'It is related that this was the only
occasion in his lifetime that, given a
chance to use some vigorous and impress
sive sentences, William Maxwell Eyarts
let the opportunity slip, He simply
stare at the check in silence.n
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-01-13
TERMS $3.50.
THEY WISHED HE HAD STAYED AWAY


Young Mr.. S. (who sings OCCASION
ally 1 say, Jack, you heard me sing
''Home Again from Foreign Shore, "
in the parlor, little while ago, didn't
you?
Jack-Oh, ya-as.
Young-Mr. Swell, how did it seem
to impress the company
Jack-W Veil er-to tell the truth,
Charley, most of them looked as if they
were sorry you had got back.-Drake's
MGgdsjne.
HOTEL BILLS IN TEXAS.
Drummer--Great Scott! this is the
most eXorbitant hotel ever saw.
Hotel Clerk--Don't you complain.
You ought to have seen the bill | sprung
on New York railroad man who stopped
here two days. 1t was such a steep bill
that, by thunder, it scared me so l
could hardly write it out.-Icaas SJt-
ings.
A sUIToR's STRATEGY.
Mr.. Jervey-"Is Mr.. Podgers at
home 2"
Girl at the Door-'eNo. sir; he went
| away about fifteen minutes ago."
"Ah-um-when will he return ~
''He said he wouldn't be back for sew
eral hours
"Thank you. VIII you please an
nounce me to Miss Podgers. Z'itts5urg
Dispatch.
BRIDGET NO CLAIRyoYANT.
'Lady-"Shut your mouth, Bridget.
You are the most impertinent servant l
ever had You always want to have the
last word"
get-"Sure, and that's not me
fault. How can know beforehand
whin yez are going to quit answering
me back ?''-Ieras SVtjngs.
TAKING NO CHANCES.
Wife What time does the train start
dear?
Husband--Five twenty p. m.
Wife And what time is it now?
Husband Consulting his Waterbury
watch)--Nine a. IN.
Wife (anxiouslO-We had better be
going. Life.
BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE.
'I'm a (hic) bald headed eagle from
high mountain top" he said to the bar.
tender, 'and this is my day to scream"
"YOu had better scream in whisper,
my friend" continued the bartender.
''because Pm poor man and my wife
has just had twins"
The baldheaded eagle flew away.
ODDS AND ENDS.
"PA, have you got the hydrophobia2n
''NO, BERTHE; what makes you ask that
question:" ''Weu, l heard ma saw to-
day that you got awfully bitten when
| you thought she had fortune in her own
| name"
FAITH is sometimes represented by
| the figure of a drenched female clinginr
to a sea washed rock; but better per-
sOnifcation would be a bald-headed
man buying bottle of patent hair re
storer.
''YOU can't expect a man of my trade
to join this strike" said a carpet beater
"Who not?" asked the walking dele
gate. Because we are only carpe
knights, and we can raise more dust b,
working than loafng"
| 4 BEGGAR. to all appearance slight1r
bcfJgged, thus accosted a passcr by
''Sir, would you pleas give me a little
money to buy bit Of bread, for I am so
dreadfuiiy thirsty that L don't know
where am to get nights lodging F"
| A FEMALE contributor brought in a
communication written on both sides of
the paper. The editor scowled and re-
fused it. "WeU," she retorted, "I'd
like to know if you don't print on both
sides3" There's no such thing as argu.
ing with a woman.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-01-13
A Mean Man.

The Philadelphia Neaos says: OLD Billy
w. was one of the richest men who lived
some fifteen years ago, in that part of
West Philadelphia called Mantua, and
one Of the meanest men who ever drew
breath. One day he took a Lancaster
Avenue car for the city, carrying in his
hand basket of sup RIB white grapes,
raised in his own greenhouse. Old Billy
w. sat in one corner of the car and a
poor mother with a sickly child in her
lap sat in the corner opposite. The
child looked at the grapes wistfully, as
the car rolled on, square after square.
At last the old man in tone of rasping
curiosity asked the child where she was
going.
. ITO the park, sir, to see the grass and
the birds"
"Do you like grapes?"
eyes, sir" and the pale little face
frightened up as the child half rose
from her mothers lap.
The old man lifted up his basket of
luscious fruit and plucking one grape
from gigantic bunch, gave it to the
child.
The rest of the passengers said moth
ing, but the way they looked at the old
man would have split stone post.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-01-13
Official DromioS.

The Albany Journals Washington
letter has this item: INC resemblance
between Attorney General Garland and
First Comptroller Durham is very strik-
ing, and hardly day passes that one of
them is not mistaken for the other
often giving rise to very ludicrous
scenes. Each one is tall, with cleanlv
shoven face, swapping black eyes, and
rugged features, while the similarity OF
their slouched hats and their attire gen
orally adds to the likeness. There was
similar case in 1860, when wonder
fully striking likeness existed between
Mr.. Guy, the landlord of the National
Hotel, and Senator Cass, who was one
OF his guests. One morning a Balti,
MORGAN, who had taken two or three
cocktails, meeting Gen. Cass in one of
the upper entries of tie hotel, rushed
up to HIM, slapped him heavily on the
shoulder, and said: ''Old GUY, how
are you You must give me better
room, or L VIII go to some other hotel. ="
so soon as Gen. Cass could recover
from his surprise he exclaimed: ''Sir,
you are mistaken; l am not Mr.. Guy;
am senator Cass, of Michigan. You
should be more careful before you salute
people as you just did me. " The man
was terribly mortified, and sought con
ISOLATION in another cocktail Just as he
left the barroom he met, as he thought,
his friend Guy, and going up to him,
sand; Guy, made terrible mistake
Just now. | thought that met you up
stairs, slapped you on the shoulder, and
asked for better room, but it turned
out that it was old Cass and not YOU"
Sir" exclaimed the person spoken
TO- you have made a mistake again. |
am Senator Cass, and you have been
drinking. You should be ashamed of
yourself, sirn' The man took the next
train for Baltimore.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-01-13
FlOrida's Orange Grove Sold.

The Florida Herald says: The famous
Dummitt grove on the Indian River
was sold on Monday last for $34, 00O-
The grove contains between 5000 and
400 bearing trees. Judge ]. @. Muir
ray said to a Herald reporter:
1.-THE grove has quite an interesting
history. 1t was first settled nearly
forty years ago by an old pioneer
Georgian named Dummitt, who left his
own State, with his family, his negroes,
and his cattle, and, liking the location,
he settled here and remained undis-
! turbed for many years. After his death
! the property went to his heirs, who sold
it to a Mrs. Schuyler, q wealthy lady Of
| New York; but she soon got tired of
! the isolation, and she disposed of it to
the we'll known Duke and Duchess of
Castellucia, whom everybody in the
State will remember. The Duke, who
was an Italian, conceived the idea that
if he purchased the property he could
import a number of his cOuntrymen ovel
/ here from IGgIy aLId liIUl 90 :. .~.s =.
! little dukeadom himself. To this end
! he brought over quite a number OF i'm
/ migrants, but the scheme didn't work,
! for when those fellows came over here
they saw that their noble landlord did
not pay them as much Tor their labor as
the American orange growers, SO they
left the Duke and went with the Amer
leans, and the ducal dreams of Castel-
lucia vanished. After that the property
by sundry conveyances came into pos
session OF the Florida Fruit Company,
who gave a mortgage of $50, 600, upon
which foreclosure proceedings were in
stituted as you already know. This,
you see, then, is condensed account of
the famous Dummitt grove, whose
oranges are known over the world for
their wonderful favor.n
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-01-13
SMOKING OUT A MOONSHINER.
Pig Jack and His Razor-back Swine
Forced Out of Their Cavern by Sulphur
Fumes.
From the Louisville Courier 7


A notable moonshiner has arrived at
the jail in charge of Deputy United
States Marshal John Rule. The prisoner
is Charles Meredith, otherwise known
as 'Pig jack" of Edmonson county.
'Pig Jack" is a hermit, and for the
past year has been living in a cave in
the wilds of his native county. He is
about 80 years of age, of medium stat.
ure, and bears the outward appearance
of being veritable wild man. His
hair and beard are long and unkempt,
while his clothing is such as he might
have made with his own hands.
The cave wherein "Pig Jack" dwelt
is known as Rock House. 1t is located
several miles from brownsville, in a
lonesome, forsaken district of country.
The hermit took Up his abode at the
place because, in his own language, he
''liked animals better than men," He
herded a drove of swine, and smoked
pork constituted the principal part of
his everyday diet. This fact led to the
pseudonym, "Pig Jack" The grizzly
hermit, however, committed a breach of
the law when he distilled his own whis-
key. He has a weakness for the gen.
uine article, which amounts to passion.
Deputy Marshal Rule had a very ex-
citing time in capturing "Pig Jack"
The hermit, who knows every nook and
Granny in his neck of the woods, would
successfully hide himself whenever the
authorities of the law instituted a
search for him. Several days since the
wild man was out shooting squirrels,
when Rule and several companions, on
horses, pounced upon him. Pig Jack"
took to his heels and ran like a deer.
The country was rocky and he soon
outstripped his pursuers. His cave was
well known, however, and Rule deter
mined to smoke the man out of his hole.
A huge fire was accordingly built in the
mouth of the cave, and when the flames
were at high point damp leaves and
sulphur were thrown in the blaze. The
effect was mos: successful, and 'Pig
Jack, as well as his herd of razor back
swine, soon came out into the open air.
The hermit is genial, comical fellow,
and is filled with amazement at the
sight of city. He is full of reminis.
cences, and, despite his alleged hatred
of men, is a capital favorite among the
prisoners at the Jail.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-01-13
A BOOTBLACK'S FORTUNE.
He Won it More by Perseverance and Pluck
Than by Go d Luck.
[From the Santa Rosa Democrat ]

From the Santa Rosa Democrat.1
A little over seven years ago, a boot
black from San Francisco wandered to
this city. During the six months that
he was around our streets he made many
friends through his quiet, respectful man
ner and bright and intelligent face At
last he disappeared from our city as
quietly as had been his arrival. No ono
knew whittier or why he had gone, as he
had made no confdants while here, and
kept his business to himself. Last Sat
urday he returned to this city from the
northern country, on his way to San
Francisco. But not as bootblack. The
bright, intelligent-faced boy had devel-
oped into a tall, finely pcoportioned
man with a burned, happy counte-
nance The change is accounted for in
the following story told by himself;
He had started from San Francisco in
the spring of 1878, with the intention of
going to the northern counties to take up
land He left all his earnings, which
he had been saving tor the purpose, with
his mother and younger brother, and
started out to work his way by boat, but
that failed, and he was compelled to
travel overland. At the end of his six
months stay here he left with $40 He
did not stop to add further to his ex-
chequer until his arrival in Mendocino
county. There again he was almost dis
heartened IN learning that he was not
old enough to take up land. But he
made vow that he would not return to
his mother in the big city until he could
bring more money than he had given her
on his departure. Days heightened into
weeks and still he had no regular en-
ployment, and would have starved with
out the aid of some of the citizens to
whom he told his story. At last he
chanced to meet with a tall, rough
bearded man, who subsequently proved
to be his benefactor in q most singular
manner. The man, whose name was
Randolph, was intoxicated, and would
have fallen over a steep grade had he not
reached him just in time. Fearing to
let Randolph go home alone, he accom-
panied him up q steep and tortuous
mountain trail to his cabin, situated on
the border of his claim of 16O acres,
which was covered thickly with valua-
bic timber. Although Randolph loved
liquor he carried within his breast the
warmest of hearts, and on learning the
lad had saved him, and also of his little
benefactor's forlorn plight, he would not
listen to his leaving him. -Four years
passed, during which Randolph and the
bootblack wore ed together. The cabin
was Transformed into a cosy little dwell
ing. The possessions of Randolph,
which are now shared equally between
him and his protege, were increased to
500 acres; roads and tramways had been
constructed, and stalwart woodmen had
cut deep swath into the timber. At
the end of another three years, which
brings us up to the present time, other
improvements have been made, and the
little bootbIack Is returning to his
mother and little brother after all these
years a rich merchant. The firm of Ran
doIph & Co. is estimated to be worth
$50, 900.
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-01-13
A Drug Clerks Awful Agony.

81 had strange experience the other
night, said a clerk in a Randolph st.
drug store yesterday. az was sitting
behind the stove in a sort OF n dozc
when the nigbt-belI Jinglcd violently.
The instant L opened the door a boy
not yet in his teens stumbled into the
store with prescription in his hand. 1t
had been written by prominent ply
siclan living on Washington boulevard
More asleep than awake, l set about
preparing the medicine-a task which
consumed fully half an hour. After the
boy had departed | returned to my seat
and was just falling into deep sum-
Der when the thought that l had made
mistake in the preparation of my
medicine flashed through my mind. |
leaped to my feet as scared a man as
ever lived. Selling the prescription
read it over and over again, each time
becoming more convinced that 1 had
made most egregious and perhaps
fatal error. No aconite had been pre-
scribed, yet my thoughts and the moist
plug in the bottle containing the drug
told me that the poison was in the med
icine. l darted out of the door in search
Of the boy, whose name I did not know,
but he was nowhere to be seen. Re
turning to the store I paced the floor
like a mailman. Unpleasant visions
dashed before my eyes and was about
to drop upon the lounge in despair
when the bell began to tingle again. l
thought my fate had surely come when
| started towards the door. Imagine
my surprise to find the very same boy
crying as though his heart would break,
and holding piece of the broken vial
in his hand.
"'I-I-fell and broke the bot
the lad whimpered.
"'Spilled the medicine I gave youY
gasped, not waiting for the boy to finish
his sentence.
eye e-s, sirl p
" 'Hooray,' I yelled, choking the boy
off and hugging him to my breast. l
may have acted like baby Just then,
for kissed him a. ain and again, and
squeezed him as though he had been a
long lost child. When the atonished
lad left the store this time he clutched
the pure, straight stuff, but l wouldn't
pass through another hour of such tor
ment for all the drug stores in the city
News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-01-13
Under the Sea.

In ther port of the London Geograph-
ical Society on the deep-sea explorations
of the Atlantic bed previous statements
concerning its confguration are verified,
namely that the bottom of the North
Atlantic is occupied by two valleys, the
eastern extending from ten to thirty
degrees west longitude, and traceable as
far as the equator, with an extreme
depth of less than thirteen thousand
feet, while the western valley reaches
from the thirtieth to the fftieth degree
Of west longitude. The two are separ-
ated by a ridge in thirty degrees west
longitude, along which the average
depth is only one thousand fathoms, and
which can be traced northward to Ice
land and southwark to the Azores; it is
volcanic in character at both extremi-
ties Its extreme breadth is sometimes
less than five hundred miles, the depth of
water increasing on both sides of it ac-
cording to the distance of its axis.